52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #5: In the Census

Census records show where people lived on census day. The records give a snapshot of a community. That does not mean they are always correct. Along with other records, they help you develop a timeline of a person's life. They are the most available record.

I have chosen three examples of census records, two in England and one in Canada.

The first example is my great-grandparents, George Iles and Emily Pugh. Early in my online research, but before I had access to images either on microfilm or online, I did a search for them.  I searched the English Census of 1881 for Emily Pugh in Gloucestershire. Because my grandfather, William Iles, was born there, I used it as my starting point. No luck. I searched for George Iles. Because Iles is often written as Isles, I used the wildcard * to show there might be another letter between the I and the l. I found one that looked like it might be a match. 

I found George Illes, age 21 and born in Condicote listed as a visitor in the household of Wm. Clifford, age 56 and Hannah Clifford, his wife, age 54 in the census for Broadwell. Emily Rew, age 20, and born in Stow on the Wold is identified as the grand-daughter of the head of household. 

When I viewed the microfilm of this 1881 census, I could see why the indexer transcribed her surname as Rew. It looked like Pew not Pugh. The enumerator wrote her surname like he heard it. Until I did further research, the fact she was listed as "grand-daughter" led me astray. [1]

The second example is James Iles, father of George Iles, an agricultural labourer in the 1851 census. Later census records list him as a shepherd.

James married Louisa Belcher 10 July 1845. In the 1851 census, James is not enumerated with Louisa and the children. She is shown as the head of the household. On the night before census day, James was in the household of John Lees. He worked on the 560 Acre Soundborough Farm. John Lees employed 15 labourers. The enumerator for this area gave more details than is usually found in census records. This household started on page 17 but James is listed on page 18. [2] Where are Louisa and the children listed? They are on page 17 living at White Hill. [3]

The final example is the households of my grand-father William George Iles and the household of his parents and siblings in the 1911 census of Canada. Peter Garvie enumerated both families. He did his rounds on the 8 and 9th of June 1911. 

The household of William George Iles comprises William, his wife Emily and their children: Edith May, Ivy Ella and Daisy Alice. William worked as a polisher in a foundry. What is interesting is they are listed as born in Ontario. William, Emily and Edith May were born in England. Who provided the information? They lived at part lot 17, concession 4, Derby Township. Also living on the same lot are Robert and Leslie Penner households. [4]


The household of William's parents and siblings comprises George and Emily Iles and their children: Edith, Manuel, Harold and Lillian. They are all identified as being born in England. George came to Canada in 1904 according to the 1911 census and the rest of the family in 1905.  George's occupation is listed as gardener. [5]

[1] 1881 census of England, Gloucestershire, Broadwell, RG 11/2563, ED 5, folio 84, p. 18; William Clifford household; digital image, citing microfilm 1341618, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

[2] 1851 Census of England, Gloucestershire, Broadwell, Class: HO107; Piece: 1969; Folio: 333; p. 18, John Lees household, entry for James Iles; digital image, Ancestry.ca citing microfilm 87369, Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. John Lees household begins on page 17.

[3] 1851 Census of England, Gloucestershire, Broadwell, Class: HO107; Piece: 1969; Folio: 333; p. 17, Patience Iles household; digital image, Ancestry.ca citing microfilm 87369, Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. 

For more information about Sevenhampton and the Soundborough property, check 
http://www.sevenhampton.org/parish-council/sevenhampton-parish-council-minutes/home/listed-buildings/

https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101089368-barn-and-open-fronted-store-soundborough-sevenhampton#.WnUtaainHIU

[4] 1911 Census of Canada, Ontario, Grey North (district 73) Derby (sub-district 1), p. 8, household 79, William George Iles household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (Ancestry.ca : accessed 4 February 2018), citing microfilm T-20373, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa. 


[5] 1911 Census of Canada, Ontario, Grey North (district 73) Derby (sub-district 1), p. 9, household 87, George Iles household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (Ancestry.ca : accessed 4 February 2018), citing microfilm T-20373, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa. 
© 2018 Janet Iles